German manufacturer Mirai Intex has announced on its website that German authorities is offering subsidies to purchasers of its air-cycle cooling system, which uses only air (R729) as a refrigerant.
The offer of subsidies comes under a program run by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety program to subsidize refrigeration and air conditioning equipment using halogen-free refrigerants.
The aim of the program is to reduce the energy consumption of refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and to increase the share of stationary refrigeration equipment using natural refrigerants by supporting the adoption of new systems and modernizing old ones.
The program was in place for two years until the beginning of this year. The Ministry has since announced the extension of the program to December 31, 2021.
“It’s great to see that the fruits of our efforts have been appreciated and noticed – we create only environmentally friendly projects,” said Mirai.
Companies interested in obtaining subsidies for Mirai’s equipment can view Mirai’s outline on the application process or refer to the main website of the German Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA).
For commercial projects, funding is capped at €150,000 (US$183,000) per unit and cannot exceed 50% of eligible costs.
“The decision as to whether your company will receive a subsidy is made by the German authorities on the basis of the information you provide about your proposed project,” said Mirai. “An important factor that influences a positive decision is compliance with the formal conditions for participation in the programme, correct completion of all documents, completeness and relevance of the information, as well as fulfilment of all the necessary requirements for your company to participate in the programme.”
Mirai Intex’s ultra-low-temperature (ULT) systems use air from the atmosphere as its refrigerant in what is called air-cycle refrigeration (defined by the reversed Brayton Cycle).
Air-cycle technology is based on the heating capability of air during compression and its extreme cooling effect during the expansion process; no phase change occurs. Repetition of compression and expansion cycles brings temperatures down to -110°C (-166°F), according to the company.
Last year, Mirai announced that it would be marketing its systems to serve as the refrigeration technology for COVID-19 vaccine storage and freeze-drying COVID-19 tests.
“It’s great to see that the fruits of our efforts have been appreciated and noticed – we create only environmentally friendly projects.”
Mirai Intex
